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03/18/10, 06:49 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,120
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Please, tell me all about hay!
O.K. Have been looking into prices of hay down here and there seem to be many kinds of hay and different cuts of same.
Timothy, coastal, bermuda, alfalfa, meadow grass and goodness knows what all and then there is first cut, second cut, third cut..........................
Whats the difference?
And does it make a difference to goats?
I know you all love your goats but goats live world wide in some pretty marginal areas and give milk and meat just fine. Is giving the best a case of over the top super love cause you can or is it really important?
Please, lighten the darkness of my ignorance 
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03/18/10, 07:14 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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For dairy does, it's important. Alfalfa hay has high protein and the calcium they must have to produce milk that their breeding has programmed into them. Without the right calcium level in their diet, they can experience hypocalcemia and die.
Brush goats or scrub goats don't have the same genetic disposition. They don't need a high calcium diet, especially if you aren't milking them.
Your bucks don't need the extra calcium and can do just fine on a lower quality hay. If they get too much calcium OR too much phosphorous, they can get urinary stones.
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/urincalc.html
To answer about "cuts," the first cut is stemmier, as it has the leftover stems from last year's fall growth in it. That is removed and baled with the first cut. The subsequent cuts have more leaf, which is what the goats eat.
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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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03/18/10, 08:40 PM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
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I try to always use the 2nd or 3rd cutting of alfafa or an alfafa/grass mix hay. Even our alfafa hay still ends up with grass in it but that's OK.
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03/18/10, 08:46 PM
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le person
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 6,236
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Most impotant thing is that it is MOLD AND DUST FREE! 
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03/19/10, 07:07 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,120
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Reading Craigs list we seem to have;
Horse hay
Coastal hay
Perenial Peanut hay
Bahia hay
T&A hay
Ohio Timothy hay
Alfalfa hay from New York
Star Grass hay
Green Coastal hay
Quality Orchard/Alfalfa hay
Cow and Horse hay
Mulatto Grass hay
Pangola hay
and last but not least
Coastal hay for cows, horses and goats
Do you wonder why I am a bit confused?
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03/19/10, 07:39 AM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Everything involved with goats has an incredible learning curve. I'm only four years in, and I learn something every day!
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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03/19/10, 08:08 AM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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I am always amazed of all the people that think alfalfa hay is the have to have hay. I agree with Alice partly as animals in heavy work or milking need alfalfa, because of the higher protein content. Most people never need alfalfa hay, the backyard horse, feeder calves, pet goat, beef cows, don`t need it. And really you can get along without alfalfa in any case. Timothy hay is rather high in calcium, and clover hay is higher in protein than grass hays. Alfalfa hay is rather new in the relm of hay making as it has not been around as long as most. And alfalfa is rather hard on some animals that don`t need all the protien. Idle horses,goats,sheep,and cattle, that do nothing other than eat and stand around, do not need alfalfa, alfalfa is hard on kidney`s and other organs if the animals are not under heavy work or milk production. One tip for people that have horses, if you are feeding horses alfalfa, look at your horses urine next time they pee. If the urine is cloudy, maybe even milky colored, your horse is having trouble with the alfalfa hay, Way to much protien. So feed your animals according to what they are doing, a good quality grass hay,second or third cutting, nice and green, no mold, is very addiquite for there diet.anymore questions ,just ask, Thanks Marc.
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Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs... 
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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03/19/10, 08:17 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,120
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So if I get a doe in milk and two doelings would a good coastal do for them all and some grain or alfalfa pellets for the doe to support her milk production be alright?
I know I can get coastal in small bales but some of the other kinds of hay only seem to come in multi hundred pound bales and, well, just cant manage something that size.
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03/19/10, 08:20 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,120
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I do know that horses need dust and mold free hay so if it says horse hay, is it suitable for goats, regardless of what kind of grass and whatnots went into the bale?
And reading the for sale adds have found three more kinds of hay  lol
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03/19/10, 08:50 AM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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A doe in milk will do better with some form of alfalfa. I use primarily alfalfa pellets, and give them some of the VERY expensive alfalfa hay for nibbling during the day.
If you use the alfalfa pellets for the calcium needed for a lactating doe, then the coastal hay is ok, if they eat it. Mine won't.
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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